Gramophone.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

JOSEPH SANDERS, OP WASHINGTON, DISTRICT CF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOB. T VICTOR TALKING MORIRE (mm, A CORPORATION OF NEW J EBSEY.

Speemcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application fled September 16, 1908. Serial No. 173,446.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josera SANDERS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gramophones, .of which ythe following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide in a talking machine, improved means, of simple and yeffective construction, for supporting a sound reproducer to swing across and toward and away from a 3 sound record; to provide improved sound amplifying means; and to provide other improvements 'as will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in vertical section of a talking machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

and actuated by any suitable motor, (not shown), arranged as usual in the cabinet 1. Arranged to coperate with a sound record 3 upon the record support 2, is a sound box or sound reproducer 4, which is connected to and in communication with the smaller end of a sound amplifier or amplifying' horn, as will appear hereinafter.

The sound amplifier or amplifying horn comprises two longitudinally tapering tubular sections 5 and dtl of unequal lengths, the longer one, 5, of which forms, the major portion of the horn, and the shorter one, 6, of which is interposed between the longer section and the sound box and forms a sound box arm or tonearm. These two sections, 5 and 6, areoonnected and entirely supported to swing freely and independently of each other about a common vertical axis, .by means of a stationary boriiontal coupling 7, which is interposed between the smaller or inlet end of the longer section 5 and the larger or delivery end of ,the shorter stion 6, and which is preferably rigidly supported in 'a plane above the record support 2 by a bracket S'secured to and proiech'ng upwardly from the cabinet 1.

To elle'ct an extremely simple and eicient connection between the coupling 7 and the tapering horn sections 5 and 6, the coupling 7 is preferably annular in form and provided with internal screw threads and the adjacent ends of the horn sections 5 and 6 are provided' with corresponding external screw threads which engage the internal threads of the' coupling. These screw threads are carefully proportioned to permit of a. practically free rotary movement about a vertical axis of the tone arm and of the major portion 5 of the horn, but at the same-time to avoid any .rattling or undesirable looseness between these parts, and if the joint be so made that the parts will unscrew while the tone arm 6 is being propolled across the record by the action of the record as will appear hereinafter, the freedom of movement of the tone arm will be increased thereby.

The longer section 5 of the horn throughout the greater part of its length is substantiully straightin longitudinal axis and is inclined upwardly at a slight angle to the horizontal and terminates at its outer or discharge end in an outwardly Haring bell 9, und the inner part of the larger portion 5 is curved downwardly to meet the coupling 7. The tone arm or smaller section 6 of the horn is straight and substantially horizontal 'from its smaller end to a point near its larger end and then curves upwardly to meet the coupling 7, the horizon tal portion ofthe tone arm being spaced a small distance abm'e the sound record 3.

To provide a simple and ecient connection between the sound box 4 and the free end of the tone arm 6 which will permit of a practically free movement of the sound box with respect to the arm in a vertical plane, the sound box l is carried by and communicates with the smaller' end of a hollow longitudinally tapering qundruntul neck 10 which is provided at its larger end with internal screw threads which engage corresponding external screw threads provided therefor on the free end of the tone arm 6, the external and the internal screw threads being carefully proportioned to permit ofn practically free rotary mme ment of the sound box 4 and the neck 10 with respect to 'the tone arm 6, about the longitudinal axis of the free end of the tone arm.

The sound box l is provided with the usual or any suitable diaphragm l1 which ioo llO

is actuated by means of the usual stylus or needle 12 carried by the usual stylus bar 13, the arrangement being such that when the stylus 12 is in operative engagement with the sound record 3, the diaphragm will be substantially perpendicular to the record 3 and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the free end of the tone arm.

To support the sound box in an inoperative inverted position above the plane of the sound record, or in an inoperative position, projecting slightly below the plane of the record, a sto 14 pro'ects from'the tone arm 6 in the pat of an coperating with two shoulders 15 found on the threaded end of the neck 10 by cutting a portion thereof, one of the shoulders being arranged to come into contact with the stop 14 when the sound box has been rotated about the tone arm from an operative position upwardly and into an inoperative position 'ust beyond the vertical and to hold the soun box in the latter position, and the other shoulder being arranged to engage the stop 14 when the sound box has been removed laterally from the record and has been lowered or. permit-- ted to fall to :l pointl slightly below the plane of the record, and to hold the sound box in the latter position.

It is thought that the operation of this device is evident from the foregoing description, it being understood that thestylusor needle 12 engages and ooperates'wxth `the sound record preferably in a. well known manner in a sound undulating groove provided therefor in the record, and is vibrated and propelled across therecord 4by and? in accordance with the walls of the sound groove, the vibratory movement of the stylus being transmitted to the diaphragm 11 and by the diaphragm transferred into ,sound waves. In the-operation of this device, the longitudinal portion of the tone arm 6 swings in a predetermined path which is nearly but not quite horizontal or parallel to the record support and by' suitably proportioning the pitch of the threads supporti!! `the tonearm, the actual bodily movemento 4the tone arm vtoward the record during soundfreproduction may be united to less than one three hundredths o an inch.

It is to bel noted that the construction .of the sectional sound conduit leading from the sound box is such that the sound Waves reproduced by the sound box pass from the sound box consecutively through the neck 10. tone arm 6 and horn section 5 and are delivered or discharged through the bell 9.

It is evident that. owing to the tapering construction of the sound box neck 10, the tone arm 6, hornsection 5 and bell 9, the soundwaves reproduced by the sound box are gradually and increasingly amplified all the way from the sound box to the delivery end of the bell 9.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim und desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. ln a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a sound box arm movable across said record support, and a sound box disposed laterally on one side of the longitudinal axis of said arm and movable with said arm across the record support, said sound box being also freely movable relatively to said arm about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the arm to follow a record on said support.

2. In a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a sound box arm movable across said record support, and a sound box carried by and movable with said arm across said record support, the center of one side of the longitudinal axis of said arm, and the sound box being,r freely movableV relatively to said arm about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said arm to follow a record on said support.

3. In a talking machine,the combination of a record support, a hollow soundconveylng arm mounted to swing across said record support, a sound box having a diaphragm arranged in the operative position of said sound box in a plane substantially perpendicular to the surface of said record support,

Seid Sound box being disposed in its opera- O* ,e position on one side of the longitudinal `airis of said arm, a coupling member connecting said sound bo'x to said-arm to move therewith across the record support, saidcoupling member being also rotatable with respect tosaid arm about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said arm to bring said sound box into or out of operative relation to said record support, and means between said coupling member and said arin for holding the former in position with said sound box in inoperative relation to said i record support.

14:. In a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a hollow sound conveyarm mounted to swing in a lixed path across said record support, a sound box, and means coupling said sound box to said anm to move therewith across said record ,support.. and to move freely relatively thereto 'about anaxis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said arm, both to follow a record on said support in the reproduction of sound, and to assume an inoperative position with respect to said record support when the machine is not in use.

of a record support, a hollow sound conveying arm mounted to swing in al fixed path across said record support, a sound box, means coupling said sound box to said arm to move therewith across said record support, and to move freely relatively thereto 5. In a talking machine, the combination about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said arm. both to follow a record on said support in the reproduction o f sound. and to assume an inoperative position with respect to said record support when the machine is not in use, and means between the aforesaid means and said arm, for holding said sound box in,noperative position.

6. In a talking machine, the combination of a sound box and a sound amplifying horn affording a gradually widening sound passage, composed of two sections axially joined by a screw-threaded coupling and movable with reference to each other, anda quadrantal neck carrying the sound box and axially joined to the small end of the horn by engaging screw-threads, so as to render the neck freely movable about the axis of the horn at its small end. 4

7. In a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a hollow sound conveying arm mounted to swing in a fixed plane across said record support, a sound box, and a rigid elbow coupling said sound box to said arm to move therewith across said record support, and to move freely relatively thereto about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said arm, both to follow a record on said support in the reproduction of sound, and to assume an inoperative position with respect to said record support when the machine is not in use.

8. A sound amplifying horn composed of two hollow successively related members of constantly increasing cross section from one end of one member to the other end of the other member and swinging independently one of the other in parallel planes, one member being also movable bodily to and from the plane of movement of the other vmember in the normal operation thereof.

9. In a sound reproducing machine, a sound amplifying horn composed of two hollow successively related members of constantly increasing cross section from one end of one member to the other. end of the other member, and swinging independently on'e of the other in substantially parallel planes, one member being movable across the record tablet by the engagement of the stylus with the record groove and at the same time gravitating bodily toward the tablet.

10. A sound amplifying horn composed of two independently movable members connected together by a screw thread swivel joint, and -a sound box carried by one of said members and movable freely therewith relatively to the other member.

11, In a sound reproducing machine, a sound amplifying horn composed of two hollow successively related members, one swinging independently of the other in a plane substantially parallel to the other,

said member being movable across the record tablet by the engagement of the stylus with the record groove and at the same time gravitating bodily toward the tablet.

12. In a. talking machine, a tone-arm formed of fixed-and movable sections, the movable sections being connected to permit free movement of one of such sections about a horizontal axis, and a screw-thread connection unitxn the movable sections to a xed section o the arm.

13. In a talking machine, the combination with a support, of a sound reproducer arm connected to said support by means of a screw thread and movable freely with respect to said support about the axis of said thread, and sound reproducing means carried b said arm.

14. n a talking machine, the combination with a xed support, of a sound reproducer arm connected to said su port by means of a screw thread and mova le freely with re speci; to said support about the axis of said thread, and sound reproducing means carried by said arm.

15. In a talking machine, the combination with a record support, of a sound reproducer arm mounted to swing across said support, and sound reproducing means carried by said arm and arranged to coperate with a sound record on said support, said arm being arranged to gravitate bodily toward said support during its movement across said support.

16. In a talking machine, 4the combination with a hollow support, of a sound conveying arm telescoping with said support and having a screw threaded connection therewith and movable freely with respect to said support about the axis of said thread, and sound reproducing means carried by said arm.

17. In a talking machine, the combination of a record su port, a hollow supporting member, a holiow sound conducting acm telescoping with said member and having a screw threaded connection therewith and movable freely with respect to said member about the axis of said thread to traverse said record support, and a sound box carried by said arm.

18. In a talking machine, the combination with a tubular sound box arm, of a sound box, and a hollow quadrantal neck carrying the sound box and axially joined to one end of said arm by screw threads, said neck and said sound box being freely movable abort the longitudinal axis of said end.

19. In a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a relatively stationary member, a hollow sound conveying arm having a screw threaded connection with said member, to swing across said record support, and a sound box carried by the free end of said arm and movable therewith across said record support and also movable freely independently of said arm toward and away from said record support.

20. In a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a hollow supporting member, a hollow sound conveying arm having a screw threaded connection with said member, to swing across said record support, a sound box carried by the free end` of said arm and movable therewith across said record support, and a joint in said arm between said sound box and said screw threaded connection permitting said sound box to move freely toward and away from said record support independently of the movement about said screw threaded connectiom 21. In `stalking machine, the combinationv with a substantially horizontal disk record support, of a sound box arm mounted to move 1n a redetermined path, anda sound box carri by said arm and arranged to'cooperate with a record on said support, said sound box being freely rotatable through a limited arg with respect to said arm about an axis substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of one end ofsaid arm, and said sound box, when at one end of said arc, being in an inverted position above said record support and entirely supported by said arm, and said sound box, when at the other end of said arc, being in a position projecting below its normal operative position, and being entirely supported by said of said arm', to permit the sound box to' fol; A low a record on said support and to be` turned about said axis to an inoperative position.

23. In a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a hollow sound box arm, and means mounting said arm to swing across said record support and to move bodily toward and away from said record support by and upon said swing movement.

2 In a talking machine, the combination of nn arm, a record support across which said arm is movable, a sound box `carried by and movable with said arm and 4disposed laterally on one side thereof and having a diaphragm arranged substantially perpendicularly to said record support-in the operative position of said sound box, said sound box being movable about-an axis extending longitudinally of said arm to :in inoperative position relative to said support, and means for holding said sound box in ino erative osition.

25. n a tal 'ing machine, the combination with a rotary record support, of a hollow sound reproduoer arm mounted to more in a predetermined path with respect to said support, and sound reproducing means car` ried by and communicating with said arm and arranged to rotate freely with respect thereto about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said arm, said sound reproducing means being provided with a stylus arranged to engage a record on said support at a .point spaced horizontally from a vertical plane coincident with the said axis of rotation of said sound reproducing means.

26. In a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support, of a hollow sound reproducer arm mounted to move Ain a predetermined ath with respect to said support, a longitudinally curved hollow neck having one end axially jointed to one end of said arm, and sound reproducing means secured to and communicating with the other end of said neck, said neck being freely rotatable with respect to said arm about the longitudinal axis of said end of said arm, and said sound reproducing means being provided with a stylus arranged to engage a record on said support at a point spaced horizontally from a vertical plane coincident with the said longitudinal axis of said end of said arm.

` 27. In a talking machine, the combination` with a rotary record support, of a hollow tone arm, mounted to move in a predeter-V` mined path with respect to said support, and sound reproducing means carried bv said arm and arranged to rotate freely with ico respect thereto about an axis extending longitudnally of said arm, said sound repr ducing means being provided with a stylus arranged to engage a record on said at a point spaced horizontally from a rertical plane coincident with the said axis of rotation of said sound reproducing means, said sound reproducing means being freely invertible from an operative to an inoperative position with respect to said arm, and being entirely supported by said arm when in said 'inoperative position.

28., In a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support, of a hollow tone arm, mounted to move in a predetermined path with respect to said support, sound reproducing means carried by saidI arm and arranged to rotate freely with re-` spect thereto about an axis extending longitudinally of said arm, said sound reproducing means being provided with a stylusi arranged to engage a record on said support at a oint spaced horizontally from a vertical p ane coincident with the said axis support no llt sus

of rotation of said sound reproducing means, said sound reproducing means be ing freely invertible with respect to said arm from an operative to an inoperative osition and means carried by said arm for iolding said sound reproducing means in an inoperatlve position.

29. In a talkmg machine, the combination with a rotary record support, of an arm mounted to move in a predetermined path with respect to said support, and sound reproducing means carried by said arm and arranged to rotate freely with respect thereto about an axis extending longitudinally of said arm, said sound reproducing means being provided with a stylus arranged to engage a record` on said support at a point spaced horizontally from a Vertical plane coincident with the said axis of rotation of said re roducing means.

30.` n a talking machine, Athe combination with a hollow arm movable in a fixed plane, and a sound box mounted on the free end of said arm and so disposed that the sound box is free to rise and fall, turning about the longitudinal axis of said arm as a center durin the reproduction of sound.

31. n a talking machine, the combination with a hollow arm and i a record support over which said arm is mounted to move, of a sound box secured to said arm on an axis coincident to the longitudinal axis of said arm, and so disposed with respect to said arm that said sound box is free to rise and fall turning about said axis as a center during the reproduction ofsound.

32. In a talking machine, the combination of an arm and a record support over which said arm is mounted to move, a sound box and means connected to said sound box and telescoped into the free end of said arm and free to turn about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said arm, said sound box being so disposed at one side of said arm that said sound box is free to rise and` 4B fall, turning about said axis as a center in the re reduction of sound. 33. n a talking machine, the combination of a tubular tone arm normally extendjn 'toward the record to be played and -i vote to swing'in a horizontal plane, a sound box tube having a rectangular bend. therein, one

sol

arm of which tube is connected to said tone arm to permit the other arm of said tube to oscillate in a vertical plane, and means for permitting a free but limited oscillation of said sound box tube around the axis of said tone arm. 1 l,

34. In a talking machine, thecombination of a tubular tone arm normally extendin toward the record to be played and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane, a. sound box tube connected to the free end of, and in axial alinement with said tubular tone arm, said sound box tube having'a rectangular bend therein near its free end, and means upon said tone arm and said sound box tube for permittin a free but limited oscillation of said soun box tube around the axis Vof said tone arm.

35. In a talking machine, the combination name to this specification in lthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH SANDERS. Witnesses: l

F. T. CHAPMAN HUGH M. STERLING.

Itis herby certified that Lttera 'lgtant No. 1,152,343, August` 31, 1915, upn th pplicationrof Joseph Sanders, o f Washingtox-l, District of Columbia, for an improvement i (i-gxrwphonez,l an 4error appears in the printed specification requiring as follows: Page 4, line 56, claim 23, foithe word l Vthin correction therein thifth'e same m-ycofqrm to the moord of the case in the mit oaice.

i f signed @d ma this` 23th dry of september, A. D., 1915.

Ism-1 '.1. T. NEWTON,

nnratem No. 1,152,343

favyigg ad www; Ina'wzzne ma Leners Pmnt shpuld be ma with 

